such cynicism ucla88.....:^)
but you are correct. It is very easy to argue about the quality of the icing (frosting) if you have little understanding of the ingredients, the preparation and cooking techniques that went into making the cake.
And even with all that, the best chef's and pastrycooks have something else thet add, something beyond. So do great engineers, musicians, philosophers, humanists, parents and so on. What does this have to do with crossover design? Learn from the best.
I have just read, tonight, an excellent essay on speaker design principles. No maths, just the approach, or view. Please read <a href="http://www.aloha-audio.com/library/speaker-design1.html">The Art of Speaker Design</a>. This article is also good for the beginner because it mentions specific drivers, and speaks about their limitations and strengths, much of which you can cross reference with the manufacturers data sheets, and personal listening. Lots of wisdom here. No use having the best crossover in the world if your drivers are crap/poorly selected.
Another article by the same author, Lynn Olson, deals with a step by step analysis of the design principles and analysis of the development of his <a href="http://www.aloha-audio.com/Ariel.html"> Ariel</a> speaker. There are also sections on optimising crossovers. This goes beyond a mere technical/ textbook analysis and into how to implement and optimise. Check out the other articles in his <a href="http://www.aloha-audio.com/library/"> library</a>. Lots of juicy stuff.
Textbooks:
Acoustical Engineering. by Harry F. Olsen. Long OOP but <a href="audioxpress.com"> audioXpress</a> has a reprint for $70. Try ebay it comes up there too. I paid $20 for mine.
Sound Reproduction by G.A.Briggs. Again long OOP, but comes up secondhand.
Master Handbook of Acoustics by F. Everest Walton. Speakers interact heavily with the room. Learn about what actually happens so you can make sure you are testing the right thing.
Loudspeaker Design Cookbook by Vance Dickason. Lots here, a real must have.
Horn Loudspeaker Design by Jack Dinsdale. Available <a href="http://www.britishaudio.co.uk/dinsdale.html"> here</a>
Technical papers:
Phase Coherent Crossover Networks by Nelson Pass. PDF <a href="http://www.passlabs.com/pdf/phasecrx.pdf">here</a>
<a href="http://www.linkwitzlab.com">Linkwitz Labs</a>. Lots of stuff here from someone who knows a little about it. Check out Thor and Phoenix.
There are lots more but I am tired and will post when I find them. Use these, and other refence works, along with a software optimisation program, and experiment. The maths are relatively easy (for a program) but the parameters dynamically interact so it never siunds the way the software says IME.
HTH
